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# Franklin Memories

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://franklinmemories.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://franklinmemories.com/blog/)
- [New Hope Cemetery: Alma Chavis (1929-1933)](https://franklinmemories.com/new-hope-cemetery-alma-chavis-1929-1933/) - This series of blog posts entitled "New Hope Cemetery" highlights the individuals who are buried in the Franklin, North Carolina cemetery. After visiting the cemetery for the first time, I became interested in learning more about the people who are buried there. Since then, I've started scouring records to uncover more about their lives. To
- [Ray's Chapel AME Zion Church: A House of Worship Still Standing](https://franklinmemories.com/rays-chapel-ame-zion-church-a-house-of-worship-still-standing/) - On December 16, 1885, three church trustees: George W. Wikle, Manley Neusom Stewart, and Dudley Stewart purchased land for $5 from Captain William Montraville Addington. This land, originally located on Harrison Avenue, was intended for the use of a church and graveyard. That church was Franklin's African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church, also known today
- [Another Visit to New Hope](https://franklinmemories.com/another-visit-to-new-hope/) - At this point, it's a ritual for me to visit New Hope Cemetery each time I'm in Franklin. I always feel an otherworldly sense of calm when I enter the resting grounds. This past fall, I stopped by to check on the cemetery. The climb up the hill to New Hope is a steep and
- [New Hope Cemetery: Ada Greenwood (1878-1904)](https://franklinmemories.com/new-hope-cemetery-ada-greenwood-1878-1904/) - This series of blog posts entitled "New Hope Cemetery" highlights the individuals who are buried in the Franklin, North Carolina cemetery. After visiting the cemetery for the first time, I wanted to learn more about the people who are buried there. Since then, I've started examining records to uncover more about their lives. To learn
- [From Franklin to Asheville: A Visit with the Kennedys](https://franklinmemories.com/from-franklin-to-asheville-a-visit-with-the-kennedys/) - Until recently, I hadn't visited the cemetery where the Kennedy family was buried. It's possible the Kennedy name may sound familiar to you. I've written a little bit about Reverend James T. Kennedy, as it relates to his significant influence on St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church, where he served as an educator and minister. Carrie Stewart
- [Martha, Lizzie, and the Words They Use for Us](https://franklinmemories.com/martha-lizzie-and-the-words-they-use-for-us/) - While searching for information on the history of New Hope Methodist Church from the 1940s and earlier, I stumbled upon an unexpected find. I had accumulated a very short list of previous ministers at the church by searching newspapers on Newspapers.com. While searching, I used combinations of words like "New Hope Church," "New Hope Methodist,"
- [New Hope Cemetery: Added to the Black Cemetery Network](https://franklinmemories.com/new-hope-cemetery-added-to-the-black-cemetery-network/) - After sending a submission to document the existence of New Hope Cemetery, I was informed that it has been added to the Black Cemetery Network (BCN)! BCN is a collective that brings together individuals and organizations who are working to preserve Black cemeteries. Their program collaborates with cemetery contacts, advocates for neglected and abandoned Black
- [Retracing Alden's Steps](https://franklinmemories.com/retracing-aldens-steps/) - The mystery of Alden Lawrence's disappearance has haunted the family for over 80 years. Robert Alden Lawrence was the son of Clifford and Callie Lawrence. He went missing at the age of 2 on August 4, 1942. He, along with his siblings and parents, had travelled down from New York to visit his grandparents, Carrie
- [A Tour of the Crawford Farm](https://franklinmemories.com/a-tour-of-the-crawford-farm/) - It wasn't until I rode around Franklin with one of the Crawford descendants, Emory, that I finally figured out where the Crawford homestead was located. As it turns out, it was right down the street from New Hope Cemetery. During my visit, Emory was kind enough to show me around the old Crawford property. While
- [Visiting New Hope Cemetery](https://franklinmemories.com/visiting-new-hope-cemetery/) - On my latest trip to Franklin, I made my first visit to New Hope Cemetery. The cemetery was established in the 1800s and was in use by members of New Hope Methodist Church, a church that was established by the Black members of the Franklin United Methodist Church. For decades, the cemetery had largely remained
- [Day and Night: A New Hope Cemetery Update](https://franklinmemories.com/day-and-night-a-new-hope-cemetery-update/) - A couple of months back, I visited New Hope Cemetery, a historically Black cemetery in Franklin, North Carolina. An estimated 41 people are buried in the cemetery, perhaps even more. As I approached the cemetery, I was met with a field of ferns, whose leaves tickled my calves and whose branches were high enough to
- [Remembering Thomas Walter "Little Willie" Scruggs](https://franklinmemories.com/remembering-thomas-walter-little-willie-scruggs/) - Sometimes, there are certain people who implore you to learn more about them. This was the case for Thomas Walter Scruggs. When I traveled down to Franklin recently, I made the usual trip to St. Cyprian's Cemetery, where some of my ancestors and many of their neighbors and friends are buried. The cemetery is special
- [Barbara McRae: The Passing of a Mentor and Friend](https://franklinmemories.com/barbara-mcrae-the-passing-of-a-mentor-and-friend/) - I recently learned that one of my friends, Ms. Barbara McRae, passed away in Franklin. It is difficult to express how much of an impact she had on me and my research. I met her almost eight years ago, on my second trip to Franklin. I think I had reached out to her in an
- [In With the Old](https://franklinmemories.com/in-with-the-old/) - When you get lemons, you make lemonade! After I had to cancel my research trip due to the pandemic, I decided to undertake a project that's been on the backburner for quite sometime-- a website that contains my research findings for one side of the family. I originally created Franklin Memories back in 2013 as

## Pages

- [Home](https://franklinmemories.com/) - Several years ago, I traveled to Franklin, North Carolina, one of my family’s homesteads. There, I uncovered several stories about the people who lived there. Franklin, a small town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, was full of vibrant people, places, and events. This site aims to introduce you to these individuals, their families, and some of the town’s lesser known stories.
- [Stewart](https://franklinmemories.com/families/stewart/) - Together, Ruffin Stewart (1812/1813-1860) and his wife, Mary Jane Evans (1824-1855/1860), gave birth to at least ten children. Ruffin was owned his own land and made his living as a farmer. After the couple's deaths in 1860, their children were sent to live with and work for various white families across Macon County, North Carolina.
- [About](https://franklinmemories.com/about/) - Back in 2013, I traveled to Franklin, North Carolina, one of my family's homesteads. There, I uncovered a plethora of stories about the people who lived there. Franklin, a small town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, was full of vibrant people, businesses, and events. My hope is that this site will introduce you to these
- [Clifford Berton Lawrence](https://franklinmemories.com/families/lawrence/clifford-lawrence/) - Clifford was the son of George Lawrence and Ida A. Rogers. He was born in Seneca, South Carolina. He grew up in Wagner, South Carolina alongside of 15 brothers and sisters, including a twin sister named Birdie. At the age of 25, he married Annie Juanita Love, of Franklin, North Carolina. Almost two years later,
- [New Hope Cemetery](https://franklinmemories.com/places/new-hope-cemetery/) - New Hope Cemetery is a historically Black cemetery that was established by the congregants of New Hope Methodist Church in the 1800s. The church was created in 1885 after Black members of the Franklin United Methodist Church set out to establish their own church. While the trustees of New Hope Methodist Church purchased the land
- [Alden Lawrence's Disappearance](https://franklinmemories.com/stories/alden-lawrences-disappearance/) - Alden's full name was Robert Alden Lawrence, according to his birth certificate. His mother was Callie Louise Lawrence and his father was Clifford Berton Lawrence. Alden was born in Kent Cliffs (Putnam County), New York. Alden went missing at about 11am on Tuesday, August 4, 1942 at the home of his grandparents, Carrie Ann Stewart
- [Minnie Carrie Ann McDonnell Stewart](https://franklinmemories.com/families/mcdonnell/minnie-carrie-ann-mcdonnell/) - "I can’t just sit here, I got to be doing something."Minnie Carrie Ann McDonnell Stewart (The Franklin Press, 1977) What can I say about Grandma Carrie? I never met her, but there is plentiful documentation available where she has provided accounts of her thoughts and experiences. She lived to be 107 years old, exactly one
- [Joseph Elexander Stewart](https://franklinmemories.com/families/stewart/joseph-elexander-stewart/) - Joseph insisted on having his middle name written with a “E” instead of the typical “A.” In fact, according to his wife, Carrie, he always used the “E” spelling. He was born and raised in Franklin, North Carolina. His parents were Manley P. Stewart and Rhoda Thomas. He had eleven brothers and sisters. Joseph was
- [Subscribe](https://franklinmemories.com/subscribe/) - To stay current on any updates to FranklinMemories.com, please sign up using the form below. After subscribing, you will receive email updates whenever new content is added.
- [St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church](https://franklinmemories.com/places/st-cyprians-episcopal-church/) - St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church had humble beginnings, being a place of community gathering, a place of education, and of course, a place of worship. Reverend John Archibald Deal began St. Cyprian's in the 1880s after taking an interest in the Black community in Franklin. A couple of years later, the structure of the initial church
- [Lawrence Family Documents](https://franklinmemories.com/families/lawrence/documents/) - Below, you'll find records that have been encountered during the research for the Lawrence family. If you would like an original copy of a record, please follow the citation in the photo's caption or contact me. Birth Records There are many different types of birth records that you can use for research. These records usually
- [Frazier Community Center](https://franklinmemories.com/places/frazier-community-center/) - The Frazier Community Center was a building that was built for the Black people of Macon County by the National Youth Administration (NYA) in the 1930s. Wade Blye, a teenager at the time, built the chimney. The logs came from Nantahala. It was named for the man who donated the property, Mr. W.W. Frazier of
- [Miscellaneous Stewart and McDonnell Photos](https://franklinmemories.com/collections/miscellaneous-stewart-and-mcdonnell-photos/) - These are scanned photos that have been passed down from the archives of previous family historians. Photos mostly consist of ancestors from the Stewart and McDonnell families. Years shown: 1958 and earlier. Recognize someone in a photo? Let me know! Note: These photos are copyrighted and may not be used or reproduced without permission.
- [Stewart Family Documents](https://franklinmemories.com/families/stewart/documents/) - Below, you'll find records that have been encountered during the research for the Stewart family. If you would like an original copy of a record, please follow the citation in the photo's caption or contact me. Census Records Census records can tell you about the individuals who were living in your ancestor's household during a
- [McDonnell Family Documents](https://franklinmemories.com/families/mcdonnell/documents/) - Below, you'll find records that have been encountered during the research for the McDonnell family. If you would like an original copy of a record, please follow the citation in the photo's caption or contact me. Census Records Census records can tell you about the individuals who were living in your ancestor's household during a
- [Smith](https://franklinmemories.com/families/smith/) - Over the years, Martha Smith's last name often changed between "Stewart" and "Smith." She was Ruffin Stewart's oldest child (her mother is unknown at this time). After her father's passing in 1860, she was "bound out" to the family of Reverend Canaro Drayton Smith. She lived with his family for several years, even learning to
- [McDonnell](https://franklinmemories.com/families/mcdonnell/) - The earliest couple of the McDonnell line (as identified so far) seem to be James Marion McDonnell (1855-1910?) and his wife, Mary Jane Luvenia "Lulu" Smith (1861-1912). James was born into slavery and often retold the story of being sold on the auction block in Franklin. Luvenia, born free to a single Black mother (named
- [Smith Family Documents](https://franklinmemories.com/families/smith/documents/) - Below, you'll find records that have been encountered during the research for the Smith family. If you would like an original copy of a record, please follow the citation in the photo's caption or contact me. Census Records Census records can tell you about the individuals who were living in your ancestor's household during a
- [Lawrence](https://franklinmemories.com/families/lawrence/) - The Lawrence Family did not originate in Franklin, NC, but actually lived and worked in the nearby South Carolina towns of Walhalla and Seneca. Due to the proximity of the towns to Franklin, some members of this family frequently interacted with the residents of Franklin. George W. Lawrence and Ida Rogers are the founding couple
- [Martha Stewart Smith](https://franklinmemories.com/families/smith/martha-smith/) - "I've had to pull out a many a stitch that I'd sewed to suit her."Minnie Carrie Ann McDonnell Stewart (Hope and Dignity, 1983) Martha was the daughter of Ruffin Stewart and either Elizabeth Bibby or Mary. Her father died in the mid-1850s and Mary died sometime before that. I am unsure as to when Elizabeth
- [Privacy Policy](https://franklinmemories.com/privacy-policy/) - Who we are Our website address is: https://franklinmemories.com. What personal data we collect and why we collect it Comments When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection. An anonymized string created from
- [Resources](https://franklinmemories.com/resources/) - If you'd like to learn more about Franklin, North Carolina and the history of its inhabitants, I highly recommend these resources: Macon County Heritage North CarolinaMacon County Heritage North Carolina - Vol 2Foxfire 5Foxfire 7NCpediaAmerica's Small Towns: Franklin, NCWhen All God's Children Get Together by Ann WoodfordHistorical sketches of churches in the Diocese of Western
- [Carrie Stewart's Photo Album](https://franklinmemories.com/collections/carrie-stewarts-photo-album/) - The photos below come from Minnie Ann Carrie McDonnell Stewart's photo album contents. This collection includes photos of various individuals from 1940 and earlier. Photos digitized by Olivia Dorsey Peacock in 2013. Recognize someone in a photo? Let me know! Note: These photos are copyrighted and may not be used or reproduced without permission.
- [Ida Rogers Lawrence](https://franklinmemories.com/families/rogers/ida-rogers/) - Ida's parents were Andy (1847-?) and Caroline Lovinggood Rogers (1843-?). According to the enumerator of the 1880 Census, Andy was "Black" and Caroline was "Mulatto." Andy made his living by working on a farm in Keowee, Oconee County, South Carolina and seemed to have enlisted the help of his eldest child, Susan. Caroline kept house
- [George Lawrence](https://franklinmemories.com/families/lawrence/george-lawrence/) - George was born in either May 1857 or May 1859 in South Carolina. His parents, currently unknown, were also born in South Carolina. I do not know if he had any brothers or sisters. The earliest records that I've found show that George knew how to read and write since at least 1900.Family lore states
- [Places](https://franklinmemories.com/places/) - Below, you will find places that were of important to many members of my family. Select a place below to learn a little bit about its history.
- [Maggie McDonnell Fair](https://franklinmemories.com/families/mcdonnell/maggie-mcdonnell/)
- [James Lee Grady Stewart](https://franklinmemories.com/families/stewart/james-lee-grady-stewart/)
- [Joseph Canara Stewart](https://franklinmemories.com/families/stewart/joseph-canara-stewart/)
- [Ella Stewart Ledford Casey](https://franklinmemories.com/families/stewart/ella-stewart/)
- [William Frank McDonnell](https://franklinmemories.com/families/mcdonnell/william-frank-mcdonnell/)
- [Ruffin R. Stewart](https://franklinmemories.com/families/stewart/ruffin-r-stewart/)
- [McDonnell Gallery](https://franklinmemories.com/families/mcdonnell/gallery/)
- [The Website](https://franklinmemories.com/the-website/) - Franklin Memories has been long in the making. It originated as a digital archive back in 2013, when it contained over 600 historical photographs from 1860-1940, as well as several interviews I had conducted with the town's residents. As life happened and the website was less frequently updated, the project was put on hold. After
- [Andy Rogers](https://franklinmemories.com/families/rogers/andy-rogers/)
- [Callie Louise Stewart Lawrence](https://franklinmemories.com/families/stewart/callie-louise-stewart/) - Today, Callie’s children describe her as having been quiet. She was born in Franklin, North Carolina to Joseph Elexander Stewart and Minnie Carrie Ann McDonnell. She was the third youngest of seven. In 1920, she was living with her family in the Trymont community, where several African Americans in Franklin lived. She attended school and
- [Martha Stewart Smith](https://franklinmemories.com/families/stewart/martha-stewart-smith/) - Martha was the daughter of Ruffin Stewart and Elizabeth Bibby. She was likely born in Person County, North Carolina. By the mid-1850s, her family had moved to Macon County, North Carolina. After her father’s death in 1860, she was bound out to Reverend Canaro Drayton Smith and lived with his family. Reverend C.D. Smith was
- [Susie Rogers Daniels](https://franklinmemories.com/families/rogers/susan-rogers/) - Susie's parents were Andy (1847-?) and Caroline Lovinggood Rogers (1839-1894).In 1894, Susie and Jasper's first child, Pearl, was born. That same year, Susie's mother, Caroline, passed away. In the years that followed, the rest of the children came (from oldest to youngest): Wilbur H., James K., McKinzey, James C., Sibbel, Caroline, Elizabeth, Lota, and George.
- [Rogers](https://franklinmemories.com/families/rogers/)
- [Franklin, NC](https://franklinmemories.com/franklin-nc/) - Franklin is a small town found in one of the most westward counties of North Carolina. It is located in the Nantahala National Forest and is in an optimal location to various cities in Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and South Carolina. Today, it boosts a population of about 4,000.
- [Contact](https://franklinmemories.com/contact/) - If you would like to submit content or simply chat, send me a message using the contact form below.
- [Families](https://franklinmemories.com/families/)
- [Stories](https://franklinmemories.com/stories/)
- [Collections](https://franklinmemories.com/collections/)
- [Education](https://franklinmemories.com/education/)
- [See](https://franklinmemories.com/families/mcdonnell/minnie-carrie-ann-mcdonnell/see/)
- [Map](https://franklinmemories.com/map/) - I'm a map.

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